S4 isn't a "family" car

[jfeb]

I have a second child on the way (due in April) and have just discovered that I can't fit a child seat (either rear-facing for the newborn or front-facing for the 2 year old) behind the driver's seat. It has come as a bit of a shock to realise quite how little legroom the rear seats have. I am 6'3" which doesn't help (I have my seat quite a long way back). Does anyone else out there have 2 kids to squeeze in to the back of these cars?

The thought of having to sell the S4 (after only 1 year of happy ownership) to buy something bigger is gutting. An RS6 is tempting but sub-20mpg is unacceptable for me as I do 15k-25k miles a year.

[Nige_RS4]

I've got 3 kids and it's a squeeze! I put the rear-facing baby seat behind the passenger and the 4 year olds car seat is behind my seat (I'm 6'4", so my seat is all the way back). The 10 year old squeezes in between them somehow!

[Alps]

I just recentely sat in the back of my car and realised too the lack of rear space. Assumed when I bought the car that as it's an estate there'd be loadsa space in the back and so didnt even think about checking it out

But thankfully I don't need any child seats in the back yet And when I do, as the prices should have dropped somewhat, I can use the lack of space as an excuse to buy a B7 RS4

[ChipHazzard]

I'm 6'1 and have my seat quite a way back as well and as you say it is a squeeze but my 5yr old sits behind me in a forward facing seat quite happily with out any problems.

If you wanted to keep the q car approach then you could go for a 2.7t allroad and get that remapped as it is the same engine in most respects

just my 0.02p's worth

[jfeb]

Nige RS4 - Interesting that you manage to get 3 kids in the back! I haven't tried putting the front-facing child seat behind my seat - perhaps that is the answer. I don't think I could use the tip-back function of the child seat but the boy will just have to learn to sleep sitting bolt upright! I will have another play with the seats and configuration tonight.

ChipHazzard - I have thought about an allroad (and I think there is a "normal" A6 which has the same engine too. Thanks for the idea though.

[Paulm]

One of the reasons I sold mine. My 3 kids just had no room.

[MCB]

‘S4 is not a "family" car’, is a bit strong because you are struggling with car seats, so maybe change the thread icon to a smiley when you have figured out how to sort your seats out? Would be a shame to put people off unnecessarily, as plenty of family guys with B5 S4’s on here. Two children here, one from baby to four year old, we are complete safety nuts, never had a problem fitting high quality seats and being comfortable in the front – not midgets either.

[grizz]

I did have the same problen with the s4 , must say they all love the rs6 as it has that little bit more space ....

[GrahamS4]

My girlfriend told me my car was not a family car (not that we have or are expecting kids). I muttered and grumbled. Later I saw an RS6 avant on the road and asked if that was a family car. Yes I was told. Problem solved . As soon as kids are on the horizon, I must do the right thing and shell out for one of those family cars!

[Nige_RS4]

Nige RS4 - Interesting that you manage to get 3 kids in the back!

It's a tight fit, especially with car seats - they take up more room than adults!

[derdle]

Really odd...similar thread in the RS4 section...where the owner decided to get an M5 beemer....but keep the RS4 too!

[jfeb]

MCB - Fair point about putting people off - I will try to change the Smiley

Hmm - tried to edit it but can't. Sorry.

[MCB]

No worries mate, if you want me to ask the other half what baby seat we used just let me know.

[jfeb]

No worries mate, if you want me to ask the other half what baby seat we used just let me know.

Thanks for the offer but we've already got a fair selection of car seats. In fact I have tried messing about with different combinations of seats and have discovered that I can fit both a front and rear facing seat in as long as the Mrs shifts her seat another inch or two further forward in order to fit the rear-facing seat in behind her and my son's front-facing seat isn't reclined too much, sitting behind me. Not 100% ideal but it means the S4 will last a bit longer!

[s4-99]

I have a rear facing seat for our new born Son and it has to go behind the passenger seat, which has to be moved forward and upright to let it fit.

I can live with this though, nothing will make me sell my S